Wednesday, June 22, 2016

Security In Iraq, June 8-14, 2016

The Islamic State continued with its spring offensive in
June, while the government was forcing them from Fallujah.

From June 8-14, 2016 there were 132 incidents reported in
the press. There were 58 in Baghdad, which was actually the lowest weekly total
since the third week of March. The Islamic State has been focusing upon hitting
the capital as it is reverting back to an insurgency and regularly had 60-70
attacks there per week. Those figures have now been going down. There were also
24 incidents in Anbar, 15 in Ninewa, 11 in Diyala, 9 in Salahaddin, 9 in
Kirkuk, 4 in Babil, 1 in Dhi Qar and 1 in Sulaymaniya.

Those incidents led to 234 killed and 461 wounded. The dead
consisted of 36 Iraqi Security Forces (ISF), 38 Hashd, and 160 civilians. The
wounded were made up of 27 Hashd, 33 ISF, and 401 civilians

Baghdad remained the deadliest province with 105 fatalities.
There were 44 in Anbar, 35 in Ninewa, 29 in Salahaddin, 12 in Diyala, 8 in
Kirkuk, and 1 in Babil as well followed by 321 wounded in Baghdad, 108 in
Anbar, 13 in Diyala, 9 in Salahaddin, 6 in Kirkuk, 2 in Babil, and 2 in
Sulaymaniya.

The Iraqi forces continued their thrust into Fallujah with
the Golden Division leading the way in the south. BothShuhada
neighborhoods were declared cleared, although there was still some fighting
going on in the first. That area had switched hands several times, but by the
end of the week the government forces had gained the upper hand. Another 22
neighborhoods and surrounding towns were also freed along with Fallujah
Dam.

The government forces started two new operations to sweep
through the Haditha
and Hit districts in western Anbar during the week. The military also went back
into Albu
Risha outside of Ramadi after insurgents had re-infiltrated into the area.

The fighting in the Fallujah area led to 8 ISF and 26 Hashd
being killed, and another 14 ISF and 16 Hashd wounded. The real numbers are
likely higher since the government suppresses most of its losses. Government
shelling killed another 5 civilians and wounded 20, and again there were
probably more that were not reported. Finally, IS gunfire and IEDs killed 4
civilians and injured 58 that were attempting to escape their control.

Attacks in Baghdad dipped below 60-70 attacks per week in
Baghdad for the first time in three months. IS was still attempting mass
casualty bombings there as part of its spring campaign. One suicide
bomber and a suicidecarbomb went
off in the province leaving 31 dead and 96 injured. Another suicide bomber was
killed before reaching his target. As usual the south, 22 incidents, and north,
17 incidents, were hit the most.

The Iraqi army restarted its
campaign in the Makhmour district after it stalled and fizzled out several
weeks ago. Five towns were freed including Nasir, which was
supposed to have been taken in the original operation on the first day. The 15th
Division, which was responsible for the attack received armored reinforcements
from the 9th Division, which allowed it to finally push through IS’s
lines. The troops are now expected to move onto Qayara in southern Ninewa on
the way to eventually taking on Mosul.

In Mosul and Qayara the Islamic State reportedly executed 34
people on charges such as adultery, spying, and trying to flee.

In Salahaddin IS continued to carry out hit and run attacks
upon the Iraqi forces. Those took place in the usual areas such as the Makhoul
Mountains in the northeast along with Baiji, which has been re-infiltrated by
the militants. An Iraqi air force strike was also blamed for killing 2
civilians and wounding 9 in Shirqat. The Iraqi forces were building
up their units for an eventual thrust into that district, which is in the north
and the last part of the province under IS control.

A civil society group, the Kurdistan Movement for a Free
Society had its offices bombed
in Halabja injuring one person.

There were 24 reported vehicle borne improvised explosive
devices (VBIEDs) launched by the Islamic State during the week. Only one was
successful in Baghdad. The government regularly exaggerates the numbers of car
bombs it faces, especially when IS counter attacks, so the true figures are
impossible to determine.

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About Me

Musings On Iraq was started in 2008 to explain the politics, economics, security, culture and history of Iraq via original articles and interviews. If you wish to contact me personally my email is: motown67@aol.com